Policy

Our policy work covers areas relating to our three themes; cohesion, engagement and stronger communities.

We have a close working relationship with our sponsor unit, the Community Empowerment Delivery division of Communities and Local Government (CLG).  We also work with other divisions of CLG and with other government departments on individual policy initiatives and programmes.

Recent policy issues

Engagement

The local democracy, economic development and construction bill is going through Parliament and is likely to be enacted by July 2009.

One of the main elements of the bill is to take forward the proposals outlined in the government’s 2008 white paper, Communities in control: real people, real power.

The government is seeking to place duties upon local government to ‘involve’ – the Duty to Involve, and to promote democracy – the Duty to Promote Democracy.

CDF has a series of briefing events planned for community and local government, promoting the role of community development.  These have included the links between empowerment and cohesion and the duty to promote democracy.

Cohesion

There is a growing concern about the rise of extremism in Britain.  CDF are looking at elements of this difficult issue from both a policy and practice perspective, producing findings later in the year.

Stronger communities

CDF continues to highlight the importance of the community development workforce to implementing the government’s empowerment agenda.  CDF believes that local people having power over decisions cannot be achieved without the support and input of dedicated community development workers.  Every community and neighbourhood should benefit from a dedicated, expert, community development worker to help implement this change.

For more information, contact:
Alice Wilcock, Director, Community Development

• Community cohesion
• Community engagement
• Strong communities

• National Empowerment Partnership
• Practice
• Research